All was good in the Pistons’ locker room following the 112-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night, after Drummond was ejected with 4:09 remaining in the second quarter, after appearing to hit Hornets reserve center Roy Hibbert in the back of the head with an elbow.

Referees reviewed the video to determine the severity of the infraction and decided on a flagrant-2 foul, which came with an ejection.

“I don’t make the rules; I just play the game,” Drummond said. “They felt like I did something maliciously. Everybody who knows me knows that’s not the type of player I am.”

Drummond, who finished with three points and six rebounds, was shown on video smiling and clapping as he was escorted off the court to the locker room. That made him look every part the villain, but he said it was more disbelief at the severity of the call from the officials.

“Anybody who knows me knows I’m not a dirty player. It’s part of the game,” Drummond said. “He got hit, he did whatever he had to do to get the call, the refs made the call and I was escorted off the floor. Other than that, we won the game and I’m satisfied with that.”

Following Drummond’s ejection, the Pistons regained the lead and started the third quarter with a smaller lineup, featuring 6-foot-11 forward Jon Leuer playing at center.